Welcome to the “Navigating Your 20s” series! In today’s post, we’re chatting with a content creator to gain insight on her career and content creation. To learn more about the series and explore other articles, click the link here.
Aimee Charlot popularly known as Aimyoncee or Aimbeauty is a TikToker and content creator. She sprang into the content realm and began going viral for her comedic content in 2019. Since then, her content and her career has evolved with time. This article is a casual chat with her; discussing navigating TikTok virality, working as a full time content creator, and what it looks like pursuing a “nontraditional” career.
Background
Hi everyone! My name is Aimee and I’m a Haitian American who loves theater, dance, and creating content. Growing up, I loved (and still love) the performing arts, and was part of my school’s marching band from 6th grade all the way through senior year of high school.
When I went to college, I majored in nursing. (which was more of my parents’ dream than mine) In the Caribbean diaspora, nursing is often seen as a stable and financially secure career path. But during that time, I also started creating content on Musical.ly and Instagram, just for fun.
In 2019, during the early days of TikTok, I started posting videos on the app because I genuinely loved making content. Plus, the app reminded me so much of Musical.ly, due to the lip syncing features on it.
By December of that year, a few of my videos went viral, and my page blew up. Gaining over 500,000 followers and 6 million total views in under six months. During the pandemic, when people were flocking to TikTok for lighthearted fun, dancing, and comedy, my page “Aimyoncee” really took off and reached a wide audience.
To date, I’ve gained over 100 million total views on my TikTok videos and have since pivoted toward more beauty focused content (but we’ll get into that later!).
You were an early adopter to TikTok, why did you start posting on the platform so early on?
Honestly, there wasn’t any real thought behind me posting on TikTok. Like most Gen Zers, I downloaded the app just for fun and started using it randomly. I kept posting a lot, and over time, my videos started showing up on people’s For You pages. I guess that’s how I started gaining so many video ideas, and so many followers.
You started with your Aimyoncee TikTok page, so what made you decide to start the Aimbeauty account?
With content creation there is a great need for adaptability. When I started on TikTok, comedy was a trending category which coincided with the COVID pandemic. And in 2022 lifestyle and beauty began growing into a larger niche. In my desire to continue with content creation, I saw the need for adaptability and meeting the needs of my audience and emerging trends. Although I pivoted to “aimbeauty” I still maintain and I’m still active on my original aimyoncee account.
What was it like transitioning from a creative outlet that started as a hobby to it becoming your full-time job?
When content creation was just a hobby, it felt more casual and would just upload random things that were just super playful. But now that it’s my full-time job, it can be a little bit stressful. Plus, it affects the kind of content I create (because, let’s be real, I have bills to pay, lol). Since this is now my business, I have to treat it like one. That means meeting consumer demands just like any other business. I do a lot of market research and engage with my audience to find out what kind of content they’re interested in, and I use that to guide what I create.
Another big part of my content strategy is brand collaborations, so I try to keep a good mix of sponsored and organic content.
I’m not going to lie, the transition from hobby to job was really challenging. I started tying my self worth to my content and how it performed. I would compare myself to other creators, and if a video didn’t do well or I got negative comments, I took it as a negative reflection upon myself. Thankfully, that mindset has slowly started to shift, and I’m beginning to enjoy content creation again.
If you weren’t working in content creation and social media, what would you have pursued?
Definitely nursing. Even though I didn’t have a real desire or passion for that career path, I probably would have pursued it. However, I understood the severity of that career field. Being a great nurse means truly caring for your patients and giving them the best service, and I understood how serious that responsibility was. I didn’t want to go into it just for the money, especially when I felt like God was calling me toward something else.
But I would’ve pursued it because it’s what my parents and older siblings wanted. They’re very wise and always give sound advice, and at 18-19 years old, I didn’t really know much about the world. I trusted, and still trust their wisdom to guide me in the right direction.
How do you balance healthy media consumption as a content creator?
One way I maintain balance is by not reading the comments too often. I also focus on producing more content than I consume, which helps me avoid falling into the trap of constantly comparing my work to others.
Also, i’ve found it really helpful to have outlets outside of social media to unwind. I used to over consume content at night, so now I set physical boundaries. Like keeping my phone out of the bedroom. Instead, I spend that time reading or hanging out with my husband, which has been a much healthier and more fulfilling substitute for endless scrolling.
You mentioned that you were pursuing a nursing career. Why did you pivot into social media?
One of the main reasons I left my nursing program was because my dad gave me the OK. And even more importantly, I had spent a lot of time in prayer and fasting, really asking God for direction. I needed clarity on what my next step should be and where He was leading me.
Honestly, it was a huge test of faith. I was walking away from the potential security of a nursing career for something as uncertain as social media. (a space where things can change overnight) At the time, I didn’t even fully understand what TikTok was or where it could lead. But I took a leap of faith, trusted God for His provision and guidance, and leaned all the way in. It really came down to surrendering and believing that God had something great for me.
What do you love most about being a TikToker and content creator?
There are so many things I love about being a TikToker and content creator! I’m about five years into content creation now, and it’s been such a fulfilling job and creative outlet.
One of my favorite parts of this space is getting to engage with people from literally all over the country. I also really enjoy connecting with other creators and getting a behind-the-scenes look at their creative processes and how they come up with their ideas.
I love that social media gives me a space to bring all my creative ideas to life. And one of the biggest perks? The flexibility. I can work at 11 PM or 9 AM, it’s totally up to me, and that kind of flexibility is something that I’m incredibly grateful for.
